Has how to look expensive / polished changed?

[Newpeople]

Inspired by the Chanel bag thread which is a great read.

The many previous threads on here describe (to me) what seems like a very dated look. Even a bouncy blow dry now seems old fashioned.

Anyone fancy discussing what makes someone looked polished / expensive these days? In my experience (people I know and have met) it’s vastly different and much more casual these days.

Tidy hair, whatever ethnicity.
Physical size is irrelevant if the clothes fit well, & they go with your colouring.
NO ridiculous lip filler/ overly botoxed.
It's confidence. In yourself, your capabilities, your place in life.
That's what exudes polishedness.

Unless it's sports wear, I don't think many man made fibres look polished.
Tonal dressing looks so good, I see french women doing this so well. Head to toe in subtle variations of eg camel, cream, beige. Shiny hair, fresh makeup, no nail varnish.

Thanks!

Trainers leggings and hoodies , poker straight hair.

Looks like they all got the same memo

"Nonsense"🙄

I disagree, slim always looks more elegant and well put together. Fat does not lend itself to elegance. Well fitting clothes will always look better on a slim body, thats why fashion models are slim. I say this a fat size 16. When I was an 8, I looked much better in clothes, as do most people. Clothes are cut to hang better on a small frame.

I think natural hair and a pared back but probably quite extensive skin/beauty regime is what marks out the expensive looking young people I see. They don't all have poker straight hair or use straighteners any more, although very long hair is still in for lots, it's the opposite of the orange, spidery eyelash, pouty lips look, the idea is to look exceptionally polished in a quiet way, the students that come from Hong Kong/China particularly embody this look, the skin is glassy (that's the desired look), hair incredibly glossy, outfit designer but low key and casual (I've seen some amazing net/pleated skirts, cool but not over structured jackets). I think another stream of this is young/athletic/toned look, again not overdone.

For us slightly older people, I agree tonal outfits look great. As for the slim thing, I noticed about six months ago that many already slim people in the public eye have taken a lurch to the even thinner, think Lily Allen (though she's not polished, her fashion choices are quite stylish), minor celebs, some older ladies and that's the Ozempic/Wegovy effect. I can see it in their faces, that or they've all had buccal fat removal or both, it looks very harsh for the face on people who really didn't need to be any slimmer anyway. That's a trend in the 'expensive' vein that's not great to see, plus of course then you have to try to put the fat back by filler, plump up the lips etc. I think a lot more people than you think are on Ozempmic just for appearance reasons and not health/illness/to control weight.

I’m not sure the “slim” is summing up the “expensive 2023” look properly, it’s not just slim, it’s looking like you are toned. It’s looking like you have the time and money for exercise, ideally with a personal trainer. It’s not skinny, it’s disciplined. Way harder to achieve - which makes it look expensive.

also have noticed the wealthier woman I loosely know have all gone above shoulder length for their hair- it’s carefully dyed and thick, wavy or straight (no one is going grey in our area), but it’s not swishy long.

And yes, bags don’t have visible logos as such in the day, channel has become a “going out bag” only.

The quiet wealth style is pretty boring though and you do need a certain colouring to carry off all those neutral tones - and if clothes are flowing, plain and without colour, there is nowhere for lack of quality to hide. (I do not look expensive.)

Firstly - posture and a relaxed demeanour. Secondly - Good skin, teeth and hair are the giveaways. Always.
you can be dressed in Asda/ primark clothing but if you have spot free , healthy looking skin, a good haircut with no split ends and teeth that point to expensive orthodontic work - it doesn’t matter what you wear.

I don’t think size/weight is key unless you have a very narrow, safe view of what looks stylish/polished. Wearing clothes that are too small/tight looks awful though.

Having good skin, bone structure, teeth, legs and hair (either natural or very very well coloured) helps.

Wearing clothes that are either fashionable or classic (but not dated), that fit and suit the wearer and in which she feels comfortable. You can wear the most fashionable or the most classic, expensive styles but if they don’t suit your shape and vibe they won’t work.

I recently went out for a friends birthday and met lots of new women. I was really shocked as after a couple of drinks 2 of them remarked (separately) that their first impression of me was that I was really well put together. I say shocked because I've never felt put together in my life.

I was wearing my hair up in a simple style and I do wear quite simple but well fitting clothes. Perhaps that was it?

For me, a classic polished look is the lovely healthy looking hair (my hair is crap hence why I wear it up), with that effortless cool style that's pretty simple in terms of cut and colours.

What 20 year olds do you know?! I don’t know any that dress like that (unless they are going to the gym, but even then not the hair).

@SarahAndQuack your coat sounds absolutely gorgeous and exactly what I've been looking for. Would you mind sharing where you bought it, or a link, please?
Apologies if you've already been asked this but I've not read the whole thread yet.
Thanks.

No, I've not been asked and you're very kind! Annoyingly, it was a Karen Millen, unworn but not new season. I do really rate Karen Millen for lovely coat shapes, though a glance at their current (huge, slightly terrifying) collection suggests that it might not work if you mind it not being pure wool.

I've had coats from KM for ages and on my budget they are always eyewatering, but I keep going back because 1) I never buy full price and 2) they always last really well.

Ooh! And when I look properly, it is still there even thought I bought it in the sale over a year ago (they're not doing well, KM, though this is excellent for me). It's this: https://www.karenmillen.com/italian-wool-forever-notch-neck-midi-coat/BKK13725-168-14.html?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo7KqBhDhARIsAKhZ4uiC9I_MqYTrxMa97mUPIfHr4lsS3DfsfGbndpKKCaGgol2eSJ0urqcaAkWqEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Weirdly, it was under £200 when I bought it - I think their prices fluctuate. I find it really flattering and I've had tons of compliments.

Oh SarahandQuack that’s a lovely coat, but damn you I’m now lusting after 3 KM wool fitted coats that I would never wear but realllly want.

I do know the feeling! FWIW, their stuff often goes down to much cheaper, if you are prepared to watch like a hawk and be very patient.

BMI is correlated with ses (wealth) so looking expensive will go hand-in-hand with being slim more often than not.

I prefer looking stylish to looking expensive. There’s something almost tacky about looking expensive imo. Anyone can look stylish if they want to.

I agree with good fabrics and ironing (unfortunately). Polished people look crisp, never crumpled.

Clothes need to be welling fitting, never tight

Regular haircut

No false eyelashes, fake nails or orange tans

Being good looking also helps

I don't agree with neutrals. Colour shows confidence, neutrals are dull as dishwasher. I'm sick of seeing influencers with wardrobes full of pensioner beige.

I think that generally, looking ‘polished’ is dated.
The word alone sets my teeth on edge

I think it's all about well fitting clothes with great accessories. For winter a good coat and decent scarf really work for those first impressions

Lots of discussion on hair here, but I don't think it matters that much as long as it's cut regularly and not straggly.

If you have thin hair, then I think that it looks more polished when short. People with thicker hair can get away with more styles.

That is a beautiful coat. Love the colour.

I really disagree that you have to be tall, thin have straight and wear neutrals to look polished and expensive, there is a character called Dee Dee who plays the part of a Lawyer on Coronation Street, she is plus sized, has curly hair, and wears bold bright colours, she looks very polished and has presence in my opinion and I love seeing what ensemble she will be wearing. I can’t find any decent pictures but these should give you an idea.

Great example @Makemydaypunk. Normally the type of people that spring to mind for me when this is brought up is Kate Middleton/Sienna Miller/Liz Hurley etc but the lady you mentioned does look very polished.

That’s interesting, @CasaAmarela. Of the gazillion photos on my phone these are a random handful that I’d turn to if I wanted inspiration for expensive looking polish: